Lee: Canada geese make their annual appearance across Texas, South Plains

Published: Friday, December 26, 2008

The first column I wrote for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in November 1998, was about Canada geese. At the Wildlife Center's recent December Open House, a guest asked why I hadn't written about them more recently. Checking back into my files, it was 2004 when I last wrote about Canadas, one of my favorite species of birds.

Heralding late autumn, Texas South Plains' skies are again full of skeins of the returning large birds, honking loudly as they fly overhead to feed during the day and return to area playa lakes to roost for the night. They are Canada geese, not "Canadian geese" as they're often mistakenly called. Canada is correct because it reflects their scientific name, Branta canadensis and is the name recognized by the American Ornithologist's Union (AOU). Native to North America, this species breeds in Canada and the northern U.S. in a variety of habitats, including marshes, ponds, shores, lakes, meadows, tundra and open fields. The nest is constructed in an elevated area and near water, and eggs are laid as soon as there are snow-free nest sites.

The most widely distributed and best known of all North American geese, the Canada goose has a distinctive white patch on the cheek often called a "chinstrap," and a black head and neck. They're generally dark gray-brown above and whiter below. This goose has a plump body, long neck, and webbed feet. Males can weigh three to thirteen pounds, while females generally weigh three to 11 pounds. They are all 25 to 45 inches in length. Some years ago I picked up an injured Canada goose to transport to the veterinarian, and was amazed by the bird's large and very powerful wings, as it struggled in my arms.

Ornithologist David Sibley's Web site http://www.sibleyguides.com/canada_cackling.htm notes, "One of the most significant changes for birders in the 45th supplement of the AOU checklist was the split of Canada Goose into two species." That was in 2004. There's also a map at the bottom showing where some different subspecies winter. Canada goose differentiation can be a bit confusing, since there are also several different sizes and subspecies (closely related species).

During their second or third year, a Canada goose seeks out a mate. They are monogamous, and stay together until one bird dies or is killed, when another mate may be chosen. Females lay about two to 10 eggs and both parents watch over the nest, although the female does the incubating. Eggs hatch over a 24-hour period, starting on the 26th day after the last egg is laid. Interestingly, the adults molt their flight feathers during the incubation period and can't fly again until the eggs hatch, about a month later. Very family oriented, both parents raise the goslings, and youngsters usually stay with their parents for a full year after they hatch. Predators include raccoons, foxes, gulls, ravens, bears and crows.

Goslings fledge when they're about six to nine weeks old, and stay with the parents until after fall migration when they return to their birthplace, called site fidelity.

While huge numbers of the birds migrate during spring and fall, large, permanent flocks now dot different areas of the countryside, including here in Lubbock. Canada geese primarily eat green vegetation, grains, small insects, aquatic plants and sometimes fish.

While a group of geese feeds in a field, individual birds take turns acting as sentinels warning other birds of impending danger; if a predator is spotted, the sentry alerts the rest of the flock.

Canada geese can fly up to 55 mph. They may migrate by night or day in all kinds of weather, and generally at altitudes from 1,000 - 3,000 feet, and occasionally as high as 8,000 feet. Migrating ducks and geese are often seen flying in V-formations and Canada geese are well known for this; the exact reason for this behavior is often debated. Some believe that the bird flying in front creates a draft of air that gives the bird behind it a boost, therefore requiring less energy for the rear bird to fly. Some scientists have estimated that "a group of 25 birds could fly 70 percent farther when flying in formation than flying alone." Individuals take turns being the lead' bird.

Other studies suggest the V-formation was used less than 25 percent of the time, and other formations such as a column or cluster were used more frequently. These researchers suggested that other, non-aerodynamic reasons may be the cause of flying in formation, such as the ability for the flock to communicate and see one another. One study suggests it's a mixture of both aerodynamic benefits and communication.

Populations of Canada geese have increased in part to habitat restoration, and because the geese adapt readily to the presence of people. Resident flocks in various places are brazen about nesting in urban areas, grazing on manicured residential lawns and leaving droppings behind. Wildlife biologists and others often offer help to minimize goose conflicts' in both urban and agricultural settings. Their bad habits notwithstanding, many of us enjoy their presence - during what is for most of them - a relatively brief stay.

CAROL LEE is the executive director emeritus of the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Inc. She can be reached at spwrc@suddenlink.net.